SilentPunt Podcast #215 / June 4, 2026
Author, photographer, humorist, and fellow Substacker Sheila Moeschen joins me to talk about her new book, Book Lovers’ New England: A Guide to Literary Landmarks, which takes readers through the homes, museums, towns, and landscapes connected to some of New England’s most iconic writers.
We also get into the strange persistence required to make creative work, why New England has produced so many iconic writers, whether Catcher in the Rye still holds up, the Statue of Liberty play, and a book giveaway challenge involving New England-ifying famous titles.
📚 CHAPTERS
00:00 — Intro
01:10 — Welcome back, Sheila
03:00 — Humor Saves, Willy Wonka, and Sheila’s new book
04:00 — Creating Book Lovers’ New England
10:40 — The dedication page and “Shakespeare used many words too”
14:20 — A year of literary road trips through New England
20:25 — Why New England produced so many iconic writers
24:20 — Dr. Seuss, pen names, publishing, and creative persistence
34:25 — Sheila’s New Hampshire roots, school years, and PhD path
39:00 — Leaving academia and finding a creative life
42:40 — Football detour: the Statue of Liberty play and the Hail Mary
47:30 — J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye, and unfinished work
53:00 — Stephen King, Anthony Bourdain, archives, and wanting more from artists
58:35 — Giveaway challenge, gift ideas, & why this book makes a great day-trip guide
1:03:20 — Go books. Go sports.
